This delicious and hearty baked pasta dish combines the richness of ground beef, savory pepperoni, and melted mozzarella cheese, all topped with a crisp, golden finish. It's a comforting meal that’s easy to prepare and perfect for any family dinner or gathering.
Ingredients:
Meat:
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 6 oz Pepperoni
Produce:
- 1 (28 oz) can Crushed tomatoes
- Pasta & Grains:
- 16 oz Penne pasta
Baking & Spices:
- 1 tsp Garlic salt
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
Dairy:
- 3 cups Mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat, breaking it up into crumbles. Once cooked through, drain any excess fat.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Stir everything together to combine and let the mixture simmer.
- Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to the package directions. Be sure to cook it al dente (firm, slightly undercooked).
- Drain the pasta, then layer half of it in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Spoon half of the meat mixture over the pasta, followed by half of the mozzarella cheese. Arrange half of the pepperoni slices on top.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, meat sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni.
- Sprinkle the parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- Let the dish cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Tips:
- For extra flavor, consider adding extra Italian seasoning or garlic powder to the meat sauce.
- If you prefer a crunchier texture, you can broil the dish for a couple of minutes after baking to get the cheese extra crispy.
- Feel free to substitute other types of pasta such as rigatoni or ziti if you prefer.
Enjoy your baked pasta masterpiece!
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